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Now, I want to go a little bit longer here, just to paint the big picture. I don't want it to seem wordy, but this has been significant for me. It's helpful.

I talk about Infinity. Infinite means "not finite." Finite means "limited." Infinite, therefore, is unlimited. Finite is anything with a border or a boundary. Forms are finite. But, any form or "thing" — like a bubble or a cloud — is happening in formlessness, in that which is not finite. A bubble floats in the air. A cloud floats in the sky. The bubble is a form, a cloud is a form, but the sky itself is not a form.

Formlessness is really there, but it is not a "thing."

Manifest Creation is formations in Formlessness, formations of Formlessness.

Consciousness is the Formless, the No-Thingness, the Nothingness, which is the Space or Context of everything. Infinity, therefore, is the Conscious Context in which finite forms are being experienced.

Now, if there is such a thing as The Infinite, then there is nothing other than The Infinite for The Infinite to be in conflict with. Therefore, the feeling-tone of Infinity is Calm — at peace, fearless, not afraid, because everything is happening inside Itself as an expression of Itself. There is no enemy.

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So, get familiar with the 10 Movements of your head, and then during your asana practice, as well as during the day, pay more attention to what you are actually doing with your head and neck. Let it be the flower at the top of the stem.

You are always doing something. Start being aware of what you ARE doing. Know what your options and choices are, and then mindfully self-correct so you are always doing the one that's feeling the most groovy. God, I haven't said that word in, what, 40 years?

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Yes, learn from human teachers. But, what you should really learn is how to Google the Internet of Infinite Mind on your own. The secret, as far as I can tell, is put a comma in your commentary and then listen. Pause what you would habitually do, and then listen more. You will then find yourself being inspired about how to move and flow.

Now, the simplicity of that is: Learn to relax. Throughout my life, that has been the main concept that has held its own the most. Just relax. Just relax. Just relax. In every conceivable meaning of the word — your muscles, your concerns, your fears, whatever is making you tense. Remind yourself to chill every once in a while. You won't get slammed. Or, go relax where it's safe. As you relax, the wisdom from The Infinite will start feeling like your common sense.

Just relax, relax, relax, relax. And it's easy to notice it in your body.

And one of the big insights is, "Wow, your body doesn't get tense all by itself!" It's not like, "Oh, my body is freaking out." Your body merely displays where you're at. If you are feeling tension in your neck or your back, it's not that you have a "bad neck" or a "bad back." It's feedback. So, let the fact that you are feeling tension remind you to relax, and then inquire into what's really going on. Learn to relax the physical stuff. Shifting your attention to that helps get you out of the mindset that was creating the tension.

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Go through your day saying, "I want to do what You would have me do. What would You have me do?"

Have fun doing this, is the idea. Part of the hope is this will help alleviate suffering. If you want to have a different experience, start using your mind differently. Make up your mind to no longer make up your own mind. Instead, Google it. Whenever you need to know something, Google the answer. You are wirelessly connected. Then, dare to do as your deepest feelings are guiding you to do. Your deepest feelings, remember, are coming from The All. This is how "what you do" becomes congruent with the flow of Life. You are connected to Infinity. That's what Yoga means. It is a statement or declaration of Unity.

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In the midst of whatever you are doing, wonder to yourself, ask God, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth of this, really? What is the truth of this person I'm looking at? What is the truth of this sandwich I'm about to eat? What is the truth of this awesome sunset I'm seeing? What is the truth of this traffic jam?"

Want to know what the truth is. You are making an assessment about the predicament you are in. We are all making assessments. Based on the assessment you are making, you respond a certain sort of way.

The idea is to put your normal assessments, as well as the ways in which you would then respond, in pause-mode. Don't just assess and respond habitually. If you want to have a different experience, start doing things a little bit differently. Put what you would normally do in pause-mode. You don't have to conjure up anything. Just stop doing what you would normally do. When you stop doing what you would normally do and you inquire, "What is the truth here, really?" — because there is Something Real happening — you will start to have a clearer experience about it all.

The homework is: Do this when it occurs to you. If it occurs to you, and it WILL occur to you, do it right in that moment. The more you do it, the more it will occur to you — which will seem like a bummer some of the time because it is un-rutting you from your habitual assessment and response mode, but this is why it is actually awesomely cool.

What is the truth here, really? It's an easy couple words.

The other insight that ties into this is the idea that The All is being all. The All is being all. Therefore, if you see anything truly, you will recognize it as being the specific and unique identification of The All. Everything is God in infinite, specific Self-expression. When you stop whitewashing everything with your usual assessments, then everything will start looking God-like. There's nothing else it could be!

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Erich: The clear insight — which sounds like baloney at first, until you get the hang of it — is: The All is being all. Period.

The All is being all. The All is being all. The All is all. There is nothing other than The All.

If there is nothing other than The All, then there is no enemy to The All. The mindset of The All, therefore, is calm, is fearless, is at peace, because there is nothing other than Itself to be in conflict with. And since you are the specific identification of The All, you should be feeling the peace, the fearless calm of Infinite Being as being YOUR being — every once in a while! At least once in a lifetime! At least once a day, try to get the sense of, "Wow, I only exist because The All is appearing as me."

I didn't make "me." You didn't make "you." I had nothing to do with the fact that I exist, and yet I've had insight that The All is being all. "Oh, therefore, I must be the specific Self-expression of The All."

And so, whatever the characteristics of God are, are what the truest characteristics of YOU are — calm, at peace, not dying, ever-new, unfolding. Life, live.

And so, there's homework. Do it a lot. Say to yourself, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth here really? What is the truth here, really?" Even just say it like that for a while, "Two plus two is four. Two times two is four. Three plus three is six. Three times three is nine." Learn the multiplication tables. "God is All. The All is being all. What is the truth here, really? What is the truth here, really?"

Say those words, even like a parrot, because at least when you're saying those words you are not saying your usual crud. The more you say the words, the more you will sense into their meaning.

"What is the truth here, really?" You want to know. And so, you find yourself hanging out in the New Now, a little more willing to see the truth of what's in your experience.

If there is no enemy to God, there is no enemy to us. Other people are not the enemy. Nature is not the enemy. Life is not the enemy. THERE IS NO ENEMY is the big, mega-insight. Therefore, when you find yourself becoming fearful, just sort of "comma-size" yourself, and say the sentence again. Because, when you do, you will get insight about how to deal with whatever it was that was scaring you.

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Erich: There are a couple things we have been talking about lately. I don't want to forget them too fast. Let's go slowly through this part, because if you get grounded in this part, it will make a difference.

It is all about homework. I have been saying this a lot, every class so far this year. Homework. And the rule on the homework, should you choose to accept it, is: Do the homework when it occurs to you.

When it occurs to you to do the homework, don't think, "Yes, that's a good homework. I'll do it later." Do it right then in that moment when it is occurring to you! That is the exact moment you should do it. If it occurs to you again five seconds later, don't think, "I just did it five seconds ago." It's occurring to you again. Do it again, right in that moment.

Do the homework when it occurs to you. It WILL occur to you. Which is interesting because, if something is occurring to you, then you are not initiating it — which begins to tell you that, wow, there's more going on than just you and "you" initiating stuff. The download itself is tapping you on the shoulder, saying, "Dude! Remember the homework! Dude!"

Do the homework when it occurs to you. The homework is: Exhale, relax, and then say to yourself, "What is the truth here, really?"

Each time you say the sentence, you are effectively putting what you normally think in pause-mode. Each time you say, "What is the truth here, really?" — if only for those few moments — you are not energizing your current level of ignorance. You are not energizing your usual perspective. And when you are not energizing your usual perspective, and you are instead wondering, "What is the truth here, really?" suddenly you become more malleable for a bigger Knowing to hit you over the head.

Exhale, relax, and then say to yourself, "What is the truth here, really?" Then, do not make up an answer. Relax more and listen inwardly for an inner knowing.

What is the truth about this iPhone? What is the truth about this watch? What is the truth about this necklace? What is the truth about my dinner? What is the truth about this TV show? What's the truth about... whatever is going on. What's the truth?

You want to know the truth about what's going on. If you DON'T know the truth about what's going on, then you will be running your life based on an assessment about what's going on that is less than, or other than, what is true.

So, that's the homework. That little sentence. Do it a lot. Do it when it occurs to you. It will occur to you.

Then watch yourself not want to do it! You know? And if you are not wanting to know what the truth is in that moment, then, yes, you're going to get what you get! Which will motivate you.

Therefore, be willing. Be enthusiastic. Do the homework a lot. Ask inwardly, "What is the truth here, really?"

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The other thing I want to say right now, and I talked about this a lot last year, is LOVE.

It's all about Love. It's tricky to talk about Love without it sounding hokey. But, the definition I like for Love is: Love is the willingness to recognize That Which is Real about something. Love is the willingness to recognize That Which is True. It is the willingness to recognize what is Real, instead of whitewashing it with your current level of ignorance.

And so, when you say, "What is the truth here?" as your homework, — "What is the truth here? What is the Truth here? What is the truth here?" — without even knowing it, you are practicing Love. You are not being a fake lover, with ideas about how you're supposed to be when you are being a "loving presence." But, you are being the willingness to recognize That Which is True. Each time you say, "What is the truth of this moment?" — each time you do the homework — you are being a loving presence.

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Erich: Remember, it's all about homework. The idea is do the homework. And make this the rule: DO THE HOMEWORK WHEN IT OCCURS TO YOU.

When it occurs to you to do the homework, and it will occur to you, do it right then — in the middle of a sentence, in the middle of dinner, in the middle of whatever you find yourself doing.

The homework is to exhale and relax — even right now — and then mentally say to yourself, or wonder to yourself, or ask God, or your favorite Awakened One, or whatever the concept is that works for you. Say to yourself, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth of this Life, live, New Now moment, really?"

When you see someone on the street, in the moment of seeing them, relax and wonder, "What is the truth of this person?" When you are embroiled in some dynamic at home, or you are in the store, or at your job — when it occurs to you — just exhale and relax and then wonder, "What is the truth of this situation, really? What is the truth here, really?" and then be attentive for an inner knowing.

What I like about this homework is you are not faking yourself into a perspective. You are just putting your usual perspective in pause-mode.

Remember, the smarter you get, the more you realize how little you know. Therefore, don't run your life based on the little you now know you know. Instead, put "the-little-you-now-know-you-know" in pause-mode.

You KNOW you don't know, but you want to know. And so, put the pause in there and wonder, "What is the truth here, really?"

Something is going on. What is the truth here, really? And then don't make up the answer. Hang out in the "not-knowing" place a little bit longer. Because, when you are hanging out in the void like that, you are not energizing your current level of ignorance. The download will then have a better chance of registering with you. You will find yourself suddenly, effortlessly, knowing whatever you need to know in that moment.

Bingo!

It works because there IS a Unity. It works because Consciousness is in Infinite Manifestation, and when any part of the Infinite Manifestation simply tunes in, it will find itself knowing how to be appropriate.

This is why all the texts talk about getting quiet in your mind. In those moments when you are silent-minding it, you are not energizing your usual stuff. And then, whoa, what's really true begins to dawn on you.

And so, all you have to do is not make up an answer. Do not try to figure things out. Just silent-mind it, more! Zip it! Relax. And say to yourself, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth here, really?" If you are saying that, then, at the very least, you are not energizing your usual judgments, your usual bias, your usual prejudice.

Train yourself to put your usual stuff in pause-mode because when you do New Knowing flows in.

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What you are aware of is always changing. I got into this the other day a little bit. What you are aware of is like the weather. It is always changing, but it is always something. It has never been like this before; it's never going to be like this again. But, there is always weather.

But, the weather — and "weather" is an analogy for forms. Forms — or Manifest Creation, the weather — are happening in a formless sky. The weather is always changing, but it is changing within the formless sky, which is unchanging. And so, change is happening within the context of changelessness.

Changelessness is Mind.

And so, you are aware that, oh wow, you've never sat next to this person. You've never worn these clothes. It is always going to be changing. You are aware of that. Impermanence. Always changing but always something. But you, as the observer who is cognizant of that fact — you, as the Observer — are not a form.

This is like a mega-bomb!

You as a Conscious Being are aware of forms, but YOU are not a form.

You have a specific form that identifies your specific lookout point. But, actually, you are the formless sky of Mind looking out at life from where you specifically are. You — as Consciousness or Mind — are the sky, and the body that you see when you look down is simply what this part of Infinity looks like.

So, YOU are not a body, primarily or only. You are the sky — huge, changeless, deathless, immortal, always — the Observing Self witnessing Manifest Creation, which is always changing but always something, like the weather.

And where we have gotten confused is, "Oh, I'm IN a body. I'm IN a Universe," whereas the flip is, "Oh wow, the Universe is in my Consciousness."

You are not in a world. The world is in your Consciousness. And beginning to get that, somehow.

Even right now without doing anything dramatic, without changing anything, you are Infinite Conscious Being observing Manifest Creation. YOU are not coming and going, changing, appearing and disappearing. YOU are changeless. The I AM that you are is the Supreme I AM being all. "Oh, that's what I am! Oh, that's what I am. Oh, oh!"

And the sense is, as we start clarifying, "Oh, what I really am is Formless Conscious Presence, which is aware of forms," then your specific form will evidence more health, etc.

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Karen: Can you give us a sneak peek about what you'll be talking about this year, please? Sneak peek! Sneak peek!

Erich: OK, here's a sneak peek, since you asked.

All things must pass. All forms must appear and disappear. Not that they "must," but that is what they do. Forms are always changing, like the weather. The weather is always changing, but it is always something. There is never "no" weather. The weather is always changing, but it is always something, and the "always-changing something" is happening in the sky of Changelessness — which is Mind, Consciousness, Awareness.

Work on that one, as a little side homework. The weather is always changing, but it is always something, and it is always changing and always something within the changelessness of the sky. You are not merely a form, a body, a weather formation. You are the conscious sky of Mind in which it is all happening.

The trick is to start getting this without it feeling too mental. Go slowly.

Consciousness is like the sky. It is the context in which everything is happening. Changeless Conscious Awareness is the nature of the consciousness that you are, the observer that you are, which you effortlessly are. The Consciousness that you are is not changing, is not appearing and disappearing, is not coming and going, is not dying. The Conscious Observing Self that you are is changeless and forever.

And so, what we're talking about is shifting our sense of identity away from thinking you are a body being conscious. I've said this before. You are not a body being conscious. You have a form. You will always have a form, a body. But, YOU are not primarily a form. You are not a form being conscious. You are that which is aware of forms. You are Consciousness and you look like something. But, the Consciousness that you are — which is aware of forms, which we are beginning to identify with as what we primarily are — is NOT changing.

The insight I'm getting is that as we flip into a new understanding of who we are — as we accept the fact that who we are is the Changeless Conscious One who is not coming and going, who is not appearing and disappearing — we are going to start having a radically different experience in the Eternal New Now we are always in :))))

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And so, experiment with it. That's what I did and do. Whenever you need to know something, instead of making up your own mind about it, quickly Google the Internet of Infinite Mind and LISTEN for the answer. That's how you yoke.

Now, the more you yoke, and yoke, and yoke, and yoke, and yoke, and yoke — by LISTENING like that — and you do it, and you do it, the more you will realize, "Oh wow, I don't actually have to yoke. I'm already yoked! I am Online. My mind IS connected to Big Mind. That's just the way it is."

This is when the word, Yoga, morphs into the other meaning, which is Union. It doesn't just mean yoke. The implied meaning is Union, or Unity. That is important to know. But, you have to "yoke" before you will experience the already-existing Unity. At that point, a better word than "Unity" is Singularity or Oneness.

"Unity" still sounds like separate things, joining together to form a Union. And yes, it may feel like that, at first, as though your small mind were joining with God's Big Mind. Let it feel like that. But, the more you do it, the more you will begin to sense, "Oh wow, really, there is a Singularity. Really, there is a Oneness. Really, this is what has been going on the whole time. And therefore, all I have to do is think less and LISTEN more, and then dare to do as my heart and conscience are guiding me to do."

Remind yourself to LISTEN more. And just do it all the time. All the time! There is nothing better to be doing.

In the asana practice, practice doing that, also. LISTEN for what to do. Make up your mind to no longer make up your own mind, and, instead, let yourself be guided. See, I love that. Because that way my mind feels satisfied. "Yes, I figured that out. I now know enough to know that I don't know enough to make smart decisions, and so I won't." That's smart. If you were stuck with that, it would be a bummer. But, right at that point, you start to realize, "Oh wow, I really am connected to the Internet of Infinite Mind, the Intelligence of Manifest Creation, and I CAN KNOW MORE if I simply listen more."

This is why so many spiritual texts talk about "getting quiet in your mind." In those moments when you are quiet in your mind, you will not be energizing your current level of ignorance. The download will then flow in, and you will be blessed with Insight.

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The interesting point to understand is this: Your mind is ALREADY CONNECTED to the Internet of Infinite Mind. Therefore, it is not up to you to figure things out. It's up to you to get quiet in there and LISTEN. The moment you get quiet, and you can even do that right now as you are reading this, and you thereby stop energizing your current level of foggy ignorance, is the exact moment when the download from the Internet of Infinite Mind can flow in and more clearly connect with you. In little glimmers, at first, you will find yourself Knowing what to do or not do. The idea is trust your heart. Trust your conscience. Start doing what feels right to you — in the meditations, in the poses, and in your life.

Remember, it makes sense to do this because, "You only exist because The All is being Itself as you." That is one of my favorite lines. I've said that 10 million times this year. You are only who you are because The All is appearing as you. Therefore, when you trust yourself, you are not just trusting into your conditioning. You are not just trusting into your habits. You are trusting into The All, which is appearing as you.

That is why you don't have to figure anything out. Figure out enough to get yourself to be quiet, to put a comma in your commentary every once in a while, to exhale and relax, and wonder, "What is the truth here, really?" And then don't make up an answer. Exhale and relax again. And exhale and relax again. And exhale and relax again. Next thing you know, you will find yourself moved to be talking about "this," or driving home "this" way, and you will find yourself living your life with Online Knowing. Yay! Then you begin to get it. That's what Yoga is.

The reason I talk about all of this is because Yoga is about the mindset you are coming from. It is not just bending yourself inside-out. It's about being consciously online with the Internet of Infinite Mind, and Googling answers whenever you need to know something, and doing it so much you realize, "Wow, I don't have to "get" Online. I'm Online. It's built-in. It is impossible to get off-line." If you are conscious, and you are, then YOU ARE CONNECTED, and you have always been connected. You and I have always been in the middle of The Ultimate. We are in the middle of The Ultimate even now. Whereas, if in the back of your mind you are thinking we are in a temporary world on the way to a more "real" existence, it will wreck your health and distort your experience.

OK?

So, let's meditate. And then 3) bend over, then 4) Freeform-it, and then 5) meditate again.

And in case you haven't been here before, Chapter One is what just happened. Talking. Chapter Two is we meditate for a few minutes. I usually talk for part of it, and then I be quiet for part of it. Chapter Three is a Guided Asana Chapter. Chapter Four, I put on the music and we do Freeform together, where you practice channeling your practice. And then Chapter Five, we will meditate again at the end for a short minute or two.

Thank you for coming today. Thank you for coming all year. Enjoy the web page. Enjoy the Holy Instant.

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Years ago when I was first getting into Yoga, I read somebody's advice about how to meditate. His advice was, "Meditate on the Infinite."

I remember reading that, but, man, that did not make sense to me, except sort of, but not really. Not enough to where I really knew what was up. But now I wholeheartedly endorse that advice. Yes, "Meditate on The Infinite." Try to figure out what it means... by meditating, by doing the Conscious Pause while you are meditating, over and over and over and over and over. Slide into the feeling of Infinity. Try to experience what that feels like. Try to experience why that was the guy's advice. It is very good advice, even if, at first, it seems elusive and amorphous. It will seem elusive until you start to get it. Then you will realize, "Oh wow, I can't get out of The Infinite!" Even, "Oh wow, I am The Infinite being aware of it's own infinity from right here where I am."

Infinite means "not finite," remember. A form is finite. A sound is finite. Whereas, The Infinite is the Conscious Formless Context IN WHICH every finite form is happening, sort of like the weather is happening in the not-finite context of the sky. The clouds, the forms and formations of clouds, are happening in the not-finite formless sky. The not-finite formless sky is the sky of Mind, Consciousness. And so, when you meditate on The Infinite, you are experiencing yourself as the sky, as the conscious changeless space in which it is all happening, rather than the formations of weather, only. You will experience yourself merging, so to speak, with the infinity of Consciousness. Do this as homework, if you are so guided. Enjoy what happens :))))

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Again, the insight is that God is Love. There are all sorts of good reasons to argue with that, but there are also all sorts of good reasons to start believing in it. At least be intrigued by the idea.

Remember, the way to have a clearer experience of Reality involves temporarily suspending your usual mindset. Simply stop energizing your usual perspective by being aware of what you are thinking about, what you are saying to yourself, and what you are decreeing. "I'm almost 70. That's the age my father was when he died. I will probably die of what he died of. It's genetic, you know." You say things like that to yourself, and it seems smart. You think you are reporting the news accurately. Yes, yes, yes... but your deepest genetics are not human-based. They are G-O-D-based. Therefore, be aware of what you are saying to yourself, put it in pause-mode, and then exhale and relax and wonder to yourself, "What is the truth here, really?"

If God is All, then God is being what you are. Therefore, be aware of what you are saying to yourself that is not in alignment with this new fundamental understanding. Temporarily put what you think is true in pause-mode, and then direct your attention toward having a clearer experience of whatever the truth happens to be. Go within. Feel the truth of what you are. YOU are your own closest contact point with the feeling-tone of Infinity. Then, right in that New Now Moment be attentive for intuitive knowings such as, "Yes, my real DNA is G-O-D. Maybe!" that just might surface in your mind. Entertain them a little longer than normal. In this way you will become more open to the idea, rather than always being so convinced it is not that.

Your real DNA is G-O-D. And God is Love, as it turns out, and therefore so are you. Therefore, the moment you STOP ENERGIZING YOUR USUAL MINDSET is the exact moment when you will find yourself feeling loved by the God-Love that is being you. It's effortless. There is nothing you have to do to become this way. Simply stop doing what you are habitually doing. You will then become a more humane human, effortlessly.

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This has been on my mind a lot. And I have been talking about it a lot in here. But I want to keep rubbing it in, because it seems true. Anything other than this just doesn't seem as true as it used to seem. The simple sentence I would like you to remember, and argue with, debate about, wonder about, sense into the truth or falsity of, is, "Your real DNA — what you are really made out of — is G-O-D."

Your real DNA is G-O-D.

The older you get, the more you are likely to find yourself thinking things like, "I will probably die of what my father died of." Or, "I will probably die of what my grandmother died of. It's genetic, you know." And you are likely to have good, smart reasons that justify why you are suffering from whatever you are suffering from. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Yes. Yes. But, more than that is, wow, "Your REAL DNA — the thing that you are really susceptible to — is G-O-D," whatever that means. Therefore, inquire, "What does G-O-D mean?"

The insight is that God means Supreme Being, the Being of all, and that therefore your real DNA is G-O-D, and that because God is Love therefore so are you.

I used to hear, "God is Love," and I would think, "Well, so what? Yay. But what does that have to do with me?" You know, as though God were some other entity that you will meet at some future moment after death. But, God is Supreme Being being everything that is being — right now, already, and only. And since God is Love — if — then wow, that is the truest thing about you, really, whether you are experiencing it yet or not.

Be intrigued by the concept and then immerse yourself in your actual Now experience and wonder, "What is the truth here, really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Really? Yes, genetics, I know, my father, my grandmother, yeah I know..."

But, wow, your real DNA is G-O-D. And G-O-D is Love. The more you feel the truth of this, the more you get healed — is the insight, is the hope, is the worthy quest.

Understand that if you are not pushing into new understandings about life and what's going on, then you will be stuck with your current level of ignorance. The smarter you get, the more you will realize how little you actually know. Therefore, don't get stuck with your current level of pea-brained ignorance.

Have insight into the fact that wow, maybe, your real DNA is G-O-D. "I don't really know what that means, but wow, I'd like to know." And just the, "I would like to know" aspect helps soften your current level of ignorance, and then New Knowing starts flowing in.

And so, I am practicing, and I am suggesting that especially when you are doing your Yoga practice, and you are meditating, and whenever this seems like it might be halfway true, in those moments where it is easy to be open to this truth — if it is true — then get it while you can!

In those moments, feel the truth of G-O-D. You will start feeling loved. The more you do it, even just a little bit, the more the window opens.

Your real DNA is G-O-D. Go away with that one. Think about it a lot. Say it to yourself a lot. Debate about it. Because, at the least, if you are debating about it you are still in the arena of learning about it. And wouldn't it be nice!

So, you are not the dweeb you thought you were. Other people are not the dweebs you think they are. God, Supreme Being in Infinite Display, is the only thing that is going on, really, is the insight. Supreme Being is being everything that is being.

Cool. Cool!

And again, you will be clear about this for a moment, then you will flip, "Eh, that sucks." Or, "Life sucks. Life's hard. Can't wait till I get outta here."

OK?

Your real DNA is G-O-D, Love. Let that soak in whenever possible. Put yourself out in nature more frequently. Be alone more frequently. Have quiet moments where you are not hassled by the TV or other people. Or, be with other people and do this, you know, like now! Right now we are helping each other get clearer on this, or get clearer on whatever the Truth happens to be. And it just seems like G-O-D — L-O-V-E.

This is cool. This is radical. This is hopeful. Get clear on this. Then, when you notice yourself believing something else, just nip it in the bud, faster. That's all it is. Yes! Just nip it in the bud, like a little fly swatter. And then you will be left with whatever is true. Exactly. OK?

Keep in mind that if your real DNA is G-O-D, then that is the truth, already. It is not something you are working toward. Oh! There is no process involved to it, really. That is important to understand.

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Erich: That is one of the coolest questions around. Is there more to the question?

Teresa: Well, from a personal standpoint, it seems like the last six months I've been going through an identity crisis. So I'm curious to see that through a different lens.

Erich: Excellent. That is the perfect mindset to be in when you're at a crisis. And the interesting thing about crises... The tendency is to think that everything is going wrong. But, actually, what it means is you are at the limit of a current level of understanding or self-appreciation. It's as though the sense of identity that has held you up until now is now at its bursting point. It feels like a crisis, but it is actually a growth moment to a more expansive, all-embracing sense of identity. Therefore, the mindset that you are consciously at now, being willing to see things in a new way, is exactly what will allow what seems like a "crisis" to morph into a smoother transition.

It's as though you are in a field and there is a big fence around your field, but you don't know it, and you are exploring your territory, and you get to the outer the edge of your territory and you are suddenly at a fence. It's like, "Huh??" But all it means is that you are at the furthest edge of your current understanding, and that you are primed for breakthrough, new understanding.

So, identity, I think, is one of the crucial issues to get clear on. "Who am I, really? Who are you, really? What's really going on, really?"

And every once in a while, you will have insight into the fact — and I say this a lot — that you only exist because The All is being Itself as you. The crisis point is actually, "Oh, I'm starting to understand that in a clearer way."

You only exist because God, The All, is being Itself as you. Any smaller definition will feel like your pants are too small! You know? It will feel like your shoes are too small. They were good up until now, but now that definition just isn't working.

Things are not going wrong. Things are going really right. Don't run away from the experience. Do not run away from the crisis feeling of it. Try to accept it, relax with it, and then be curious, "What is the Truth here, really?" Because the insight is that the truest Truth is that The All is being you. God is being you.

"What is the Truth here, really? It feels like things are reaching a crisis point. What is the Truth here, really?"

And to the best of your ability, without making up an answer in advance, just relax. When you relax, then the fence around the territory of "you" will soften, and a bigger sense of identity can begin to infill you. It will not be overwhelming. It will actually feel embracing and nourishing. Try not to tense up against the change. Try to soften into the change.

Feel the Truth of what you are. Do Yoga more. Meditate more. Pause more. Shut up more. "What is the Truth here, really?" Wonder that, more. Because the I AM that you are is the Infinite I AM in specific Self-expression. And that is not a bummer. That is the awesome good news. Yoga is about getting a clearer sense of that, and believing it more, and more, and more. You will still be you. You will still look like you. No one else will know anything drastic is going on, except suddenly you will be softer. You will be glowing more, and you will start feeling loved, rather than traumatized.

I think this is crucial. I think this is really a big question, important. Try to meditate a little more frequently than normal, even if that just means pause for five seconds between emails. Before you do the next text, just pause... and then do what you have to do. And then pause again... Not huge, just short, but frequently, a lot.

Increasingly the insight is there is Omnipresence, Only. There is The All, God, being all. There is the one and only not finite I AM Presence, infinitely individuated. And that is what you are.

It makes sense that you can't be comfortable with any lesser of a definition. Therefore, as your sense of self expands you are not actually hitting a crisis point. You are hitting an awesome point. Yes! Yes.

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Now remember, when we get to Chapter Four — Chapter Four is the Freeform Chapter — the human teacher, which in this instance is me, will not be telling you what to do. Teaching will be being transmitted, but I will not be telling you what to do. The thing to do at that point is channel your practice, and I am telling you that now. The whole point of any human teaching is to help you get to the place where you learn how to channel your practice. And when you are channeling your practice you can't know in advance what you are going to feel like doing! Otherwise, you are not channeling it. And so, when we get to that chapter the technique is to put a comma in your commentary and instead of you deciding what to do, listen inwardly for guidance about what to do. Pause, relax a little bit more than normal, and then dare to do exactly what you feel like doing.

Now, that is an excellent instruction, but it is too amorphous for most people. And so, as a way of learning how to do Freeform, start with something you already know. If you feel like doing a Sun Salute, then start with the Sun Salutes the way you were taught. As you are doing them the way you were taught, get into them a little bit more, and a little bit more, and a little bit more. You will find there are natural linger moments and natural flow-on moments within the prescribed pattern. As you get into it more, and you sensitize yourself to the linger and flow moments, you will find yourself beginning to deviate from the prescribed pattern. Next thing you know, "Hey, wow, I started with the known and now it's flowing into the unknown. I'm channeling it. I'm getting the hang of this. Cool!" And when it then flattens out and you lose the inspired feeling, just revert back to the prescribed pattern.

Once you get the hang of the Freeform, it will become totally absorbing. In fact, once you get the hang of it, if there isn't Freeform in class it will feel like you are missing the best part, the most important part.

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Your real DNA is not sourced in your parents or your grandparents. Your real DNA is sourced in G-O-D. Therefore, you are susceptible to whatever the truth of G-O-D is, not just blood clots, heart attacks, dementia...

G-O-D, God, means "Supreme Being." Not "a" Supreme Being that you will meet after death, but the Supreme Being which is being everything that is being.

And the insight is that you only exist because The All is appearing as you, specifically. The All is being you. G-O-D is being you. Therefore, what you are really susceptible to is not blood clots or heart attacks or dementia, but to the infinity of Conscious, Eternal, Ongoing Life.

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The way I talk about it is, "The All is all." Meaning, The One — and there is an Infinite One — The One IS the Many. The Infinite One is The All being all.

Infinite means "not-finite." I used to think of infinite as 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1, you know, on and on, infinitely. Infinite would be + 1, never-ending. But "infinite" actually means "not finite," which is therefore formless. Infinity is like the sky. It is really there but it is formless. A cloud in the sky is a form, but the sky itself is formless. The One, the Infinite One, is really there but it is formless. It is the Conscious Context in which all the forms are appearing. The Infinite One is infinitely individuated. The One is the Many.

So, it seems like you and I are tiny specks in the middle of Infinity, insignificant. Whereas, actually, it is pretty much the opposite of that. You are not a tiny speck in the middle of Infinity. You are Infinity, peering out through one of its infinite individuations.

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Q: I was just wondering, during your hiatus did you find time to do Yoga for yourself

Erich: Absolutely. He is asking if I did yoga during my "hiatus". Thank you for your question, but you have to be clear on this. When someone asks you, "Did you do Yoga?" be attentive. The old way I would hear the question was, "Did I do my asana practice for an hour and a half every day? Did I do my inversions? Did I do my backbends?"

Now when I hear, "Did you do Yoga?" I don't go there in my mind and then answer by saying yes or no. Yoga is about BEING ONLINE. It is less about what you are doing with your body. It's about your mindset. It's about being connected to Big Mind, consciously — because you ARE...

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I went to the screening of a new movie last night about Yogananda, and I'm happy to say it was really good! It's called Awake. I highly recommend seeing it when it comes out in October. There's nice, old footage of him and his guru in India, and as familiar as I was with him, much of his story I had no clue about.

Yogananda was one of the first people that got me on the Path. I remember seeing a little blue book of his on the counter of the very first health food store I had ever been in. It was called Metaphysical Meditations. It was blue, it had a picture of his face on the cover with his long hair, and I immediately fell in love with him. I joined his group, the Self-Realization Fellowship, when I was 14...

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The trick involves learning to shift your attention. Simply learn to QUIET MIND IT every once in a while and SHIFT YOUR ATTENTION to the feeling-tone of Life happening as you. It is a simple idea. But you have to do it, and do it, and do it, and do it, and do it. Do it a million times a day. You are doing something, is the point. So catch yourself. What are you doing? "I'm freaking myself out with thoughts about the future. I'm freaking myself out with thoughts about the past. I'm freaking myself out with how the world is playing out."

Yes, all of these things are freaky, especially if you are not tuning-in. And so, practice SHIFTING YOUR ATTENTION to the feeling-tone-truth of you. The download from Infinite Mind will then begin to consciously register with you. You will find yourself knowing what to do in order to solve the things that were freaking you out. Underline that last sentence. Like, just "get it," somehow.

The more you LISTEN, the more you will find yourself KNOWING what to do about the many things that are worrying you. And so, you are not being irresponsible by feeling the energy of who you are, or by learning to not think quite so much. You are actually being ultimately responsible. Yay! This is good for you, and good for the team.

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You can shift your attention and you are shifting your attention all the time. Like now, sometimes a loud motorcycle will go by and there will be an involuntary shift of attention. Then, after you have been involuntarily attending to the sound of the motorcycle, you voluntarily shift your attention back to my voice. Your attention is always somewhere. You can shift it. You just did.

Part of the practice is to shift your attention deliberately, and what I have been suggesting is SHIFT YOUR ATTENTION to the feeling-tone of YOU. Because, remember, you only exist because The All is appearing as you.

A wave on the ocean is only what it is because the entire ocean is being that specific wave. As the wave relaxes into itself and shifts its attention from whatever it was looking at, to the feeling-tone of what it is, then inevitably — because of what it is — it will feel the depths of the ocean as being the truest thing about itself.

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The simple idea, remember, is DECOMPRESS. But, do it seriously :))))) Seriously, work hard, so to speak, at decompressing. It's not that you lie down and just space out. Work hard at relaxing, and relaxing, and relaxing, and relaxing. In other words, participate fully.

Life is more fun when you participate. If you are only half in the game, you will not be running on all cylinders. It cannot be fulfilling. It will not be fun. You will be conflicted. And if you are conflicted, you are going to feel conflicted, and you will then resist being where you are.

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The main practice I am recommending is the Conscious Pause. It is also called the Holy Instant or the Sacred Pause. Use words you are comfortable with. For a long time I was not comfortable saying "holy instant." Now I like those words. It is a holy instant when you tune-in and be attentive in the New Now. "Holy" means "whole," w-h-o-l-e. It is the awareness of being holistically connected. You look at a sunset and you know it is a holy moment. You're wowed by it. It feels holy — not in a weird way, but in a really cool, grounded way!

The main practice is the Holy Instant, the Conscious Pause. Simply pause whenever it occurs to you. In the midst of whatever you are doing... [more]

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And so, here is an even easier homework. Your eyes are probably open most of the time during the day. And so, look at whatever is in your view — and do this as many times in a day as you happen to think of it —and in your mind, say, "I see you."

"I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you. I see you."

You are looking at various things all the time. You are not faking yourself into anything by saying this. You are not ... [read more]

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I taught a workshop recently and a woman asked a very smart question. She said, “You teach Freedom Yoga, and yet you say to listen for instructions. Where's the freedom in that?" I thought, "Wow, awesome question! Awesome."

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Remember, if you are wondering about anything, then you are not as clear as you could be. Therefore, do not make up your own mind about what to do or not do based on your current level of not being as clear as you could be. Instead, learn to mentally Google whatever you need to know. What you will discover is that your mind is connected to the Infinity of Mind. Then you'll get it. "Oh, wow, that's what Yoga IS!" It is the realization that your mind and Big Mind are one and the same.

At first, you will talk about it as though you are "connected," but then you will realize, "Wow, there's not enough of me — all by myself — to actually ... [more]

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Question: How do you explain to somebody who thinks they can't meditate how to meditate?

Erich: How do you explain to somebody who thinks they CAN meditate how to meditate? You know what I mean?

When I sit down to meditate I'm not really "doing" anything. Anything that you "do" is just sort of getting you in the lane. The real meditation is: YOU ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING! And then you BE ATTENTIVE to what is happening at that point. And then you realize, "Oh, wow, The All is doing ME!" -- more --

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I think we are pretty clear on the theory, right? In simple words: ONLINE ALL THE TIME. And understanding that little statement as a STATEMENT.

YOU ARE ONLINE ALL THE TIME is the simple idea. The practices help you get hip to that fact. "Oh, I AM Online! Oh, I am Online. I am Online!" So, instead of walking around feeling stranded, isolated, vulnerable, realize you are connected, already. The problem is isolation. The solution is joining.... (more)

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Now, somewhere around then I bought one of these little tape recorders. This one records as mp3's, which is really convenient. I would suggest, go out and buy one. Carry it around with you. You will need it when you least suspect it. I'll go on a walk at night, or I'll go for a drive, and I'll think, "Eh, I don't need to bring it. I'm not going to get any good insights tonight," as though you know, you know? ...

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The main practice is the holy instant, what I call the Conscious Pause. Whenever it occurs to you, pause for a moment and put a comma in your commentary. This is like hitting the mute button on your TV during the commercials. The TV is still going. Life is still going. But, you press the mute button and then hang out in the "not thinking place" for half a second or two or three. The idea is to relax, and listen for the download, to feel the truth of who and what you are so as to then give expression to it. You are not responsible for the download, but you can let it flow through you. You can let it in and you can let it out.

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I have talked about this before, but I want to say it again. I wear this locket around my neck. It is a little painting of Milarepa. I don't know much about Milarepa, except that he was a Tibetan yogi. But, during my first trip to India I saw a painting of him. He was sitting in a Shankara-type cross-legged pose and he had his hand cupped by his ear as though he were listening for something. I haven't studied his story or teachings very much. That was sufficient.

The teaching is: Listen. Be mindful. Be attentive. Think less, listen more. Listen to The Infinite. That is the essence of Yoga. Listen to The Infinite and then live your life with the new perspective you will find yourself having...

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Sava" means corpse. Savasana is the Corpse Pose. Just that is amusing. Because, yes, it looks like that. But, hey, when you experience the Corpse Pose, you ain't dead. You are nowhere near dead! In fact, you start having a clearer experience of Life, live. And that is the point...

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The interesting thing remember is that it is effortless to be attentive. You do not have to do anything to be attentive. And you are always doing something. You are either "being attentive" or you are "thinking." And so, when you "be attentive" — and it is effortless to be attentive, and you are therefore thinking less — then "the download" from the so-called Internet of Infinite of Mind will begin to register with you. You will find yourself being a little clearer about what to do or not do. Therefore, THINK LESS and LISTEN MORE because when you do new Knowing flows in.

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And so, trust your heart. Trust your conscience. Relax as much as you can whenever it occurs to you. And when you are confused about something, instead of freaking out, chill more. Relax more. Then desire to know whatever you need to know. Bingo! When you do that, new Knowing flows in. Or, somehow, circumstances will reconfigure and you will know what to do. It works like this because there is an already-existing Unity.

Yoga means "to yoke." It also means Union. When you yoke — by pausing, relaxing, and desiring to know whatever you need to know — you will experience your unity with Infinity, and the wisdom of the Universe will become your common sense.

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Freedom Style yoga as taught by Erich Schiffmann is about growing into your own authentic expression of yoga. It is an intuitive approach to LIFE with three strands: 1. Meditation, 2, Asana Practice, 3. the rest of the time. Continue reading →

I took your class for the first time yesterday at Exhale, and had an incredible experience. During our first meditation (with the eyes open) I was able to see the auras of the other students around me. This has never happened to me before. Your discussion, and teachings are resonating within me and instead of fading with the day have only grown stronger.

Thank you for the beautiful experience. Although I am not sure where it may lead, I believe that yesterday’s class opened a new door for me.

Erich Schiffmann’s classes are by far my favorite. There is something about being in the presence of an Awakened One that makes me love myself more. His dharma talks are inspiring, his sequencing intelligent, music selection groovy, and the space to do our own thing? EMPOWERING!!!! The most humble guru ever. His love is POWERFUL and PALPABLE and I feel blessed to take class with him every week!! Xxxoo♥

Of all the books written on Yoga, Erich Schiffmann’s book Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness most clearly captures the process of Yoga asana practice as a discipline that combines infinite softness and self-awareness with dynamic strength and flow. It is a “must read” for anyone who wants to move beyond the athleticism of many contemporary Yoga practices and into the possibility of using that ancient discipline as a tool for self-liberation.

Back from Yogaville with even more realization of the importance of recognizing the light in others as part of seeing ourselves in everyone. This feels like acceptance, graciousness, and love in practice.

Thank you, Erich Schiffmann, for being the guru of my heart and leading me to believe what I already knew, that only love matters. I love you. ♥

My advice is find the time…and $…and you will be changed beyond belief … being with erich for a training or workshop … any extended time … is like bathing yourself in LOVE … so healing … and then the healing starts to happen all around you … miracles. ..:))

I was in your class at Yogaville and loved it! I was the one who came to you at dinner time and begged you to stay longer next time. I hope that you will consider the possibility. A 10 day teacher training would be exactly what would satisfy most of us. Thank you for an amazing experience and I hope to see you soon.
Gratefully,

What an amazing weekend it was & thanks to you & everyone at Sun & Moon for making it happen!! Appreciate all your hard work ~ beautiful venue and so well organized. I had a wonderful experience & I know the 2 friends I went with felt that same. Erich is just phenomenal… so inspiring!

Thank you for introducing me to Erich and for suggesting that I take the workshop. I really had a lovely time, met some very nice people. I had a great time, will do the poses/stretches that I remembered to write down, and, yes, I really, really liked Erich. A lot. I see now what you’ve been trying to say about him all those years.

And, I’m gonna work really hard to convince the other Ogden Palace residents that we need a hot tub, so I can have mornings like Erich’s.
xoxo,
from everyone here at the Ogden Palace and especially from me

Now, I want to go a little bit longer here, just to paint the big picture. I don't want it to seem wordy, but this has been significant for me. It's helpful. I talk about Infinity. Infinite means "not finite." Finite means "limited." Infinite, therefore, is unlimited. Finite is anything with a border or a […]

So, get familiar with the 10 Movements of your head, and then during your asana practice, as well as during the day, pay more attention to what you are actually doing with your head and neck. Let it be the flower at the top of the stem. You are always doing something. Start being aware […]

Yes, learn from human teachers. But, what you should really learn is how to Google the Internet of Infinite Mind on your own. The secret, as far as I can tell, is put a comma in your commentary and then listen. Pause what you would habitually do, and then listen more. You will then find […]

Go through your day saying, "I want to do what You would have me do. What would You have me do?" Have fun doing this, is the idea. Part of the hope is this will help alleviate suffering. If you want to have a different experience, start using your mind differently. Make up your mind […]

In the midst of whatever you are doing, wonder to yourself, ask God, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth of this, really? What is the truth of this person I'm looking at? What is the truth of this sandwich I'm about to eat? What is the truth of this awesome sunset […]

Erich: The clear insight — which sounds like baloney at first, until you get the hang of it — is: The All is being all. Period. The All is being all. The All is being all. The All is all. There is nothing other than The All. If there is nothing other than The All, […]

Erich: There are a couple things we have been talking about lately. I don't want to forget them too fast. Let's go slowly through this part, because if you get grounded in this part, it will make a difference. It is all about homework. I have been saying this a lot, every class so far […]

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Now, I want to go a little bit longer here, just to paint the big picture. I don't want it to seem wordy, but this has been significant for me. It's helpful. I talk about Infinity. Infinite means "not finite." Finite means "limited." Infinite, therefore, is unlimited. Finite is anything with a border or a […]

So, get familiar with the 10 Movements of your head, and then during your asana practice, as well as during the day, pay more attention to what you are actually doing with your head and neck. Let it be the flower at the top of the stem. You are always doing something. Start being aware […]

Yes, learn from human teachers. But, what you should really learn is how to Google the Internet of Infinite Mind on your own. The secret, as far as I can tell, is put a comma in your commentary and then listen. Pause what you would habitually do, and then listen more. You will then find […]

Go through your day saying, "I want to do what You would have me do. What would You have me do?" Have fun doing this, is the idea. Part of the hope is this will help alleviate suffering. If you want to have a different experience, start using your mind differently. Make up your mind […]

In the midst of whatever you are doing, wonder to yourself, ask God, "What is the truth here, really? What is the truth of this, really? What is the truth of this person I'm looking at? What is the truth of this sandwich I'm about to eat? What is the truth of this awesome sunset […]

Erich: The clear insight — which sounds like baloney at first, until you get the hang of it — is: The All is being all. Period. The All is being all. The All is being all. The All is all. There is nothing other than The All. If there is nothing other than The All, […]

Erich: There are a couple things we have been talking about lately. I don't want to forget them too fast. Let's go slowly through this part, because if you get grounded in this part, it will make a difference. It is all about homework. I have been saying this a lot, every class so far […]